There are just two weeks left to comment on the Draft South East Plan, a 20-year plan for the region's eight million people. The Plan maps out future needs for the South East region, covering housing, jobs, transport and the environment. Consultation, on behalf of an independent panel of inspectors, runs until 5pm on Friday 23 June.

The South East England Regional Assembly and its partners have spent two years developing the Plan, which will set the framework for councils to prepare local plans. Key objectives include building more affordable homes, investing in public transport, improving water and energy efficiency, enhancing workforce skills and helping poorer areas become more economically successful.

Chairman of the Assembly, Cllr Keith Mitchell, said:

"The South East Plan is about every issue that affects our daily lives. We need to plan for our future if we want to live in a healthy environment, be part of a successful economy and have good transport links. Assembly members, including local councillors, the business, social and environmental sectors, have worked hard on the Plan. We went to great lengths to take your views on board last year and now is your chance to have final comments."

"The Assembly's core requirement is to have adequate infrastructure to support development in the South East. We have set this out in the South East Plan, now Government needs to help provide sufficient funding."

For a response form to comment on the Plan, call 01483 885256 or fill in the form online on www.eipsoutheast.co.uk.

Contacts

Lesley van Dijk, Assembly PR Executive - 01483 555223

Heather Bolton, Assembly Communications Director - 01483 555220

Notes to editors:

1. Timetable and the process of the South East Plan
   Further information on the process of the preparation of the Plan is outlined on the timetable page of the Plan website, as well as the process up to the Examination-in-Public into the Draft Plan.
2. The South East England Regional Assembly is the "voluntary regional chamber" for the South East. It was established in January 1999 to give a representative voice to the South East region, which covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, and Surrey.
3. The Regional Assembly is made up of 112 members including elected councillors nominated by the region's local authorities and 37 representatives from other sectors of the community (including business, trades unions, education, housing, health, sports, culture, tourism, faith groups, environmental, community and voluntary organisations) as well as the New Forest National Park Authority.
4. The Assembly has three areas of core business:
• It is the representative voice of the South East, engaging and representing its member organisations and, through them, the wider public.
• The Assembly has a specific role under the Regional Development Agencies' Act 1998 to ensure the accountability of the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) to the region.
• The Assembly has been the Regional Planning Body for the South East since April 2001. It has responsibility for proposing strategic planning and transport policies to Government.

Last updated: 21 August 2007